Tag Archives: Coptic Christian persecution in Egypt

The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is clearly hoping to install an Islamic state on the rubbles of the Hosni Mubarak regime. The mass media in the West may focus on genuine factors behind current events in Egypt and some Egyptians may speak about democracy and liberty. However, it is abundantly clear that Islamists in the Muslim Brotherhood desire an Islamic state and given their past history and ongoing political intrigues, then it is reasonable to expect an Islamic grab for power.

This raises serious questions for many in Egypt but the purpose of this article is to focus on the minority Christian community which is between eight to twelve million according to different statistics. After all, the reality of the demise of Saddam Hussein in Iraq led to the complete marginalization and persecution of the Christian community and Christian numbers in Iraq have dropped dramatically because of constant persecution.

Therefore, despite the anti-Christian nature of the Mubarak regime the Christian community is faced with “the authoritarian leader they know” against “the devil leadership” which may take power in Egypt?

It is clear that the Coptic Christian community faces many genuine concerns because they suffer institutional discrimination in Egypt under Mubarak. However, given the reality that democracy is not a flourishing concept within the majority of Muslim dominated nations then the worst must be feared. This applies to an Islamic state under the Muslim Brotherhood whereby Islamic Sharia law is governed more tightly over Egyptian society rather than the pick and mix version under Mubarak.

Eli Avidar who is a former Israeli diplomat warns about the threat of the Muslim Brotherhood. He does this by highlighting the reality of Hamas in Gaza. After all, the elections ushered in Hamas and clearly this organization is not interested in power sharing or a pluralistic society based on different value systems and protected by the democratic ballot box.

Eli Avidar comments that “President (George W.) Bush and (Secretary of State) Condi Rice pressured the State of Israel to allow democratic elections in the Palestinian Authority and what happened was that Hamas took over and these were the first and last democratic elections.”

Therefore, history may repeat itself if the Muslim Brotherhood takes over the leverages of power. Eli Avidar is clearly worried about this because he comments that “If they go and take the leadership because of democratic elections, I believe that democracy will not continue in Egypt because the fact is, the second that they take power, they will not leave it…”

It must be stated that the Iranian Revolution of 1979 ushered in an Islamic theocracy after the collapse of the Shah of Iran. Democrats, Secularists, Marxists, Islamic socialists, socialists, and other forces, all believed that they would vie for power and that they could sideline Khomeinists and the conservative Shia clergy.

However, the Iranian Revolution became an Islamic Revolution after all opposition entities were silenced and it is clear that the Muslim Brotherhood is a potent organization within the body politic of Egyptian society. Also, given the history of the Muslim Brotherhood then it would appear to be naive to expect them to sit on the sidelines because they have been waiting a long time to install an Islamic state.

Egypt, unlike Iran, does have a powerful religious minority because Coptic Christians number between eight and twelve million. However, it is clear that Christian minorities and others have been crushed in Iraq since the American led invasion and if major persecution of Christians took place, just like in Iraq, then the world would just sit back and watch from a distance. Therefore, the situation is very delicate for the Coptic Christian community and for all Christians in Egypt.

The Muslim Brotherhood clearly support an Islamic state and Mohammed himself stated “Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.”(Koran 9:29)

In my article called Muslims slaughter Christians in Egypt which was published in 2010,I comment that “The current situation in Egypt does not look good for Coptic Christians because the “flawed” political system under President Hosni Mubarak means state sanctioned discrimination. However, you also have the fear that radical Islamists could fill the political vacuum and this would add greatly to the woes of the embattled Christian community in Egypt.”

The sad reality is that Egypt under Mubarak is an Islamic dominated society whereby you have many laws which discriminate against the Christian community. This applies to severe restrictions on building new Christian churches; mass prejudice in family law which always supports the Muslim spouse over the Christian spouse in divorce cases; educational discrimination which marginalizes the indigenous Christian faith; persecution of apostates from Islam to Christianity; and in many other areas of life and this applies to government and so forth.

However, an Egypt under the Muslim Brotherhood would be even more dangerous because the Islamization of Egypt which was done more discreetly under Anwar Sadat and Mubarak would be much more open under the Muslim Brotherhood. Therefore, the Christian community in Egypt is faced with the reality of discrimination and persecution under the current Mubarak regime or even greater Islamization of Egypt under the Muslim Brotherhood. It is abundantly clear, that the situation is very tense for all Egyptians but notably for Christians because they suffer death and persecution under the current prevailing conditions but these prevailing conditions may get even worse if events turn out negatively and Islamists seize power.

Of course, nobody knows for sure how events will unfold and some people are optimistic that democracy and secularism may emerge victorious and that Egypt will flourish under a new leadership.

If this does happen then it will be a great day for all Egyptians irrespective if they are Christian, Muslim or follow no faith. An Egypt which utilizes the richness of Coptic Christian culture alongside the best of Egyptian society would clearly unleash enormous potential. Therefore, Muslim moderates, Christians, liberals, socialists, and others, could all witness a new powerful nation whereby opportunities are provided to all nationals.

Yet the reality of Iraq and the ongoing persecution which is threatening this ancient Christian community is clear for all to see. Other religious minorities in Iraq are also suffering and the Mandaeans, Shabaks, and Yazidis, also reside in constant fear. Therefore, all religious minorities are dwindling in Iraq because of the Islamic threat and clearly the reality of Islamic Sharia law means dhimmitude and marginalization.

It is clear that the political crisis in Egypt could go many ways and this applies to a new dynamic Egypt which becomes openly democratic and pluralistic. However, just like the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and current events in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein; it is clear that the darkness of Islam engulfed both nations.

This reality must be striking fear in the hearts of many Christians in Egypt because it is abundantly clear that the Muslim Brotherhood is a powerful force within Egyptian society. Therefore, the current uncertainty in Egypt is a very dangerous period for the Christian community because you clearly have a political vacuum. It is hoped that this political vacuum will be filled positively but given past history then the “Islamic shadow” may engulf the “candle of light” once more?

The blood of Christians is constantly being spilled by Muslims in Egypt, Iraq, and Nigeria

Islamic terrorists have massacred innocent Christians in the name of Allah in Egypt during New Year celebrations. Just like Islamists blew up several Christian churches in Nigeria the week before and murdered Christians in Iraq. In truth, the violence of 2011 will follow the same pattern towards non-Muslims which took place during the reign of Mohammed in the 7th century.

After all, Islam believes in the theories of Islamic jihad, dhimmitude, enslaving non-Muslims who are unwilling to become dhimmis, killing apostates, and violating all known concepts of religious freedom. At best, minorities can survive in Islamic based societies but because of institutional discrimination, which is based on the Koran, the Hadiths, and Islamic Sharia law, then these minorities become even more marginalized and their numbers decrease because of the overt Islamization policies which are put in place.

Coptic Christians in Egypt and Assyrian Christians in Iraq, alongside other minorities in Iraq, has a rich history which pre-dates Islam. However, countless Islamic invasions led to the marginalization of Christianity in both nations and Islamization and Arabization followed.

Today Iraq is in crisis and American military forces and other international troops have abandoned the Christians of Iraq and the same applies to major international world leaders. Therefore, the Iraqi Christian community is in free fall and the same applies to the Mandaeans, Shabaks, and Yazidis.

The situation in Nigeria is complex because of the ethnic and religious diversity of this nation. Also, vast areas in Nigeria have never been Islamized. In recent times it is the growth of Christianity in Nigeria which is vibrant and this fact is clearly causing alarm bells amongst Islamists in northern Nigeria because they fear the growth of Christianity.

Therefore, the implementation of Islamic Sharia law was aimed at preventing the continuing growth of Christianity in the heartlands of Islam in northern Nigeria. At the same time Islamic leaders hope to create a power base in order to propagate the faith of Islam to other parts of Nigeria. The theory is simple, to keep Islam in power in northern Nigeria and to create a cushion via Islamic Sharia law and the use of violence is part and parcel of this strategy.

Pope Benedict clearly understands that the Christians of Iraq face complete annihilation because the international community is just “standing back and doing nothing.” Islamic jihadists and regional actors which desire to seek the destruction of Christianity in Iraq are getting their wish because you have “no backbone within the international community” and all non-Muslim minorities are expendable.

The recent terrorist attack in Egypt was condemned by Pope Benedict because he stated that “This vile gesture of death, like that of putting bombs near to the houses of Christians in Iraq to force them to leave, offends God and all of humanity.” Pope Benedict also stated that “words were not enough”and it is clear that the Vatican desires to see real action and commitment in order to protect all religious minorities who are suffering in the Middle East.

In my article called Muslims slaughter Christians in Egypt I stated that “In recent times you have had many attacks against Christians and this applies to murders, riots against Christians, attacks against Coptic Christian churches, abduction and forced rapes of Christian females, and other insidious forms of discrimination and persecution.”

“In truth, ever since the first Islamic conquest of Egypt you have had systematic persecution because religious pluralism and freedom of thought does not exist in Islam. Therefore, from the very foundation of Islam in Egypt it was clear that Christians had to pay tax (jizya) in order to be protected and non-payment could mean death, enslavement, or forced conversion”

These comments were made after Coptic Christians were killed in Nag Hamadi in Upper Egypt after attending a Christmas midnight mass. Therefore, it is clear that you have a similar pattern and major dates of joy are seen by Islamists to be a time of opportunity in order to kill in the name of Allah and to spill the blood of Christians.

Turning back to Nigeria, it is clear that recent attacks against Christian churches and the Christian community is nothing new. Therefore, Christians in northern Nigeria, just like the Christian dominated elite in southern Sudan, are on the frontline against the tide of Islamic jihad and Islamization. It is essential that democratic nations wake up to the geopolitical reality of Islam and to the political and ideological nature of this faith. After all, Islam is based on devouring non-Muslims and history tells us that the end result is brutal and leads to utter backwardness and barbarity.

Non-Muslims are being devoured by the sword of Islam and this applies to Hindus in Kashmir; Buddhists in southern Thailand; Christians in Somalia; and in Iraq and Pakistan several different faith communities are facing the Islamic end game. The list could easily be added because the Orthodox Christians of Kosovo and the Baha’is of Iran face a bleak future and many holy places have been attacked.

In my article called The Destruction of Christianity in Iraq since the American invasion I comment that “Of course many American soldiers have tried to protect churches and minority communities, however, the leaders of the USA and United Kingdom are indifferent at best, or at worse, they simply do not care about their plight. Instead both nations focused on introducing Islamic Sharia law and no special zones were created to protect the Christian community and other neglected minorities, like the Mandaeans, Shabaks, Turkmens (who are Muslim), and Yazidis. This policy led to alienation and Christians and other minorities became easy targets because they had no military forces to protect them.”

I continued by commenting that “….the destruction of Christianity in Iraq is taking place because of misguided American policies and because the Christian community is not deemed to be important. So did more Christians leave Iraq under Saddam Hussein or under the American led coalition? And did Saddam Hussein introduce Islamic Sharia law or was it introduced under the American led coalition? Both times the negative answer belongs to the American led invasion because Christians and other minorities have fled their homeland because they feel abandoned and completely marginalized.” (http://www.aina.org/guesteds/20081017163356.htm)

It is clear that the Christians of Iraq and other minorities have been abandoned and their plight is clear for all to see. It must be worrying for the Coptic Christians of Egypt to witness the ongoing events in Iraq because are they not also expendable? After all, the Coptic Christians face not only the threat of Islamic fanatics but they also suffer because of institutional discrimination and this is the crux of the matter.

Irrespective of who is persecuting the Coptic Christians it is clear that America and other Western powers are only interested in their own self interests. Therefore, the Coptic Christian community and the Christians of Iraq are not tied into economic support and policy objectives.

The Christian community will continue to suffer massacres and pogroms in northern Nigeria but the Christian community in this nation will not remain passive because they know that the future of Nigeria is in the balance. However, the state apparatus is against the Christian community in Egypt and legal discrimination and overt Islamic policies is aimed at weakening the Christian community. While in Iraq it is clear that the central government is weak and Christians have no protection from the Islamic sword which desires the blood of innocents.

Over half a dozen Coptic Christians were killed and another half dozen were hurt in a Thursday morning drive-by shooting following a Christmas midnight Mass in Nag Hamadi in Upper Egypt.

Another year may have just started but in Egypt the endless persecution of Christians goes on and the endless martyrs who follow the faith of Christianity “shine out” in a world of hatred. However, why does this suffering continue in Egypt and in other parts of the world?

This article is in response to the recent murders of Christians in Egypt and I aim to link the current situation with the bloody history of Egypt and its endless persecution of Christians.

According to popular myth Egypt is a moderate nation and this mainly Muslim nation is meant to be a moderate bastion within the mainly intolerant “Islamic world.” However, while Muslims in this nation highlight the fact that you have thousands of churches, they fail to say why and they gloss over the endless persecution and discrimination within Egypt.

After all, Egypt was mainly Christian before countless Islamic invasions and in time Arabization would limit the role of the Coptic language and colonialization took root over many centuries. The indigenous Christians of Egypt already had a rich Coptic culture and history and the Coptic Christian church was blessed with a strong-minded priesthood.

Of course, not all Muslim rulers were anti-Christian but Coptic Christians always had to rely on the given ruler for protection. Yet, irrespective if the ruler was moderate or anti-Christian, one theme remained the same and this applies to institutionalized discrimination and persecution which is part and parcel of Islam and Islamic Sharia law.

Therefore, from the early conquests and up until today, it is clear that converts from Islam to Christianity face persecution. Yes, Islamic enlightenment in Egypt means that in the past the convert to Christianity would be killed, however, now it is mere prison or persecution or a mixture of both.

Turning back to the reason of this article, I will now focus on recent events in Egypt in 2010. For on January 6 in Nagaa Hamady, which is near Luxor, Muslims killed six Christians and one security guard. They were gunned down on Christmas Eve (Christmas day is January 7 for Coptic Christians and other Orthodox Christians) and clearly the timing was important.

Yet for many Christians in Egypt this is all about the embedded persecution of Christianity in this nation. Therefore the recent massacre is further evidence that Islamic intolerance and systematic persecution is part and parcel of the traditions of Egypt since the first Islamic invasion began.

In recent times you have had many attacks against Christians and this applies to murders, riots against Christians, attacks against Coptic Christian churches, abduction and forced rapes of Christian females, and other insidious forms of discrimination and persecution.

In truth, ever since the first Islamic conquest of Egypt you have had systematic persecution because religious pluralism and freedom of thought does not exist in Islam. Therefore, from the very foundation of Islam in Egypt it was clear that Christians had to pay tax (jizya) in order to be protected and non-payment could mean death, enslavement, or forced conversion.

It is worth mentioning that Mohammed himself stated that Muslims must (Koran 9:29) “Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection.”

Therefore, it is clear that Mohammed understood the power of tax and other draconian laws in order to subdue other faiths. After all, how can other faiths thrive when apostasy from Islam means death?

Prof. Kenneth Cragg sums up the dhimmi system by stating that the “Dhimmi, ‘tolerated minority,’ status under Islam has long made for a pattern of quiescence in ancient, local Christianity around the mosque. Traditional tolerance allowed only a freedom to remain, to teach the faith only within the family, so that adherence became a circumstance of birth, and continuity that of a closed community. There was no freedom to express faith, still less to recruit to it, outside that circle of one’s origin.”

Coptic Christians after the Islamic conquests were therefore faced with a bleak future. After all, if Coptic Christians were forbidden to propagate their faith freely in public then at best they could only survive. Yet this survival meant severe restrictions and systematic persecution, with the consequences of this being an ever diminishing minority and open to public ridicule because of their inferior status in law, education, and other important areas.

Therefore, in 2010 you have many minorities in mainly Muslim societies who are fighting for survival or who face open persecution because of state sanctioned laws which are based on Islamic Sharia law and maintaining massive inequality.

Minority groups who suffer open persecution in the modern world applies to the Baha’is in Iran; the Shabaks, Christians, Mandaens, and Yazidis who face persecution on a daily basis in Iraq; converts to Christianity in Somalia who are being butchered by radical Sunni Islamists; Buddhists in Southern Thailand have also suffered greatly in recent times including Buddhist clerics being beheaded; Hindus also suffer enormously in both Bangladesh and Pakistan; Ahmadiyya Muslims also face severe persecution in Pakistan and in 2009 several Christians were burnt alive in this nation; while Christians also face daily threats in Northern Nigeria and last year three Christian pastors were beheaded and other terrible attacks took place; the list is endless and of course Coptic Christians in Egypt suffer from both state sanctioned discrimination and being threatened by radical Sunni Islamists.

The current situation in Egypt does not look good for Coptic Christians because the “flawed” political system under President Hosni Mubarak means state sanctioned discrimination. However, you also have the fear that radical Islamists could fill the political vacuum and this would add greatly to the woes of the embattled Christian community in Egypt.

Sadly, major political leaders in many Western nations are in appeasement mode and they are not confronting this global menace. However, radical Islam is also growing in the streets of London and Paris, and in other major cities throughout parts of Europe and in other parts of the mainly non-Muslim world.

Therefore, the ongoing silence towards events in Egypt, Iraq, Northern Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Southern Thailand, Somalia, and other mainly Muslim nations; is impacting on other nations because this hatred is spreading wide and far and silence or appeasement isn’t working.